As always there were plenty of fashion highs and lows on the red carpet at the Oscars this year.

Light-coloured and structured gowns seemed to be two of the evening's major themes, though not everyone wore the trends well.

Kate Winslet (pictured), best actress winner for The Reader, chose an elegant dark grey satin and black tulle dress by Atelier Yves Saint Laurent by Stefano Pilati.

Her fellow nominee Anne Hathaway was all a-shimmer in a champagne-toned Armani Prive gown covered in crystals and paillettes as well as a jeweled dragon brooch on the back. Evan Rachel Wood also went pale in a strapless ivory dress by Elie Saab. Jessica Biel wore a strapless column gown by Prada in white satin, with an oversized bow detail in the front.

Penelope Cruz, best supporting actress winner for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, continued the white trend with a vintage Balmain gown.

And though not everyone wore the light tones well, one actress certainly did: Taraji P. Henson (pictured), a nominee for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, dazzled in a cream-coloured strapless dress by Roberto Cavalli, along with an oversized flower necklace by Fred Leighton.

Several stars opted for light grey, among them Meryl Streep, who wore an Alberta Ferretti empire-waisted gown, and Marisa Tomei, whose one-shoulder Versace number was notable for its fan pleats. Tomei admitted the dress had only arrived that morning, leading to a few stressful moments for the Wrestler nominee.

Among those opting for colour, Amy Adams chose a crimson bustier dress by Carolina Herrera, and Heidi Klum wore a red Roland Mouret gown. Natalie Portman opted for an orchid shade on a strapless gown by Rodarte, and Queen Latifah wore a glamourous navy one-shoulder dress by Georges Chakra.

Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto (pictured) also wore blue, a beaded John Galliano gown with one jeweled lace sleeve.

Top photo: Actress Kate Winslet arrives at the 81st Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on February 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Middle photo: Actress Taraji P. Henson arrives at the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California on February 22, 2009. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Bottom photo: Actors Anil Kapoor, Irfan Khan, Freida Pinto and Madhur Mittal arrive at the 81st Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on February 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)